Mildred Victoria Long, 1914-1990

Mildred Victoria Long was born January 30, 1914, in Biscoe, North Carolina, where she graduated from high school at the age of 16. She was the eighth child of 12 children in the family of Mr. and Mrs. N. V. Long. She early became a member of The Methodist Episcopal Church, South, in Biscoe, N.C., and was active in the Sunday school and church there until she moved to Virginia in 1935. She became a member of Schoolfield Methodist Church in Danville, Va., where she fully participated in the life of the local church. In August 1943, she received the Lord Jesus Christ in a new and living way and was called to Christian service.

Resigning from her position in personnel of Dan River Mills, she entered Columbia Bible College in South Carolina where, after two years, she became a member of the staff, serving as assistant to the director of Christian service for three years. During her years in Columbia, S.C. she attended the Wesley Memorial Methodist Church, teaching the Women's Bible Class. After graduation from college, she returned to Danville as assistant to the director of safety at Riverside for Dan River Mills. During 18 months in this position, she preached in revival services for various churches in the area and assisted the pastor of Piney Forest Methodist Church, Danville. She was called to this church as full-time pastor in 1950, under Dr. H.P. Clarke, was ordained deacon in 1952, elder in 1957, and full member in 1960. She graduated from Lynchburg College in 1953, took the conference course of study at Duke Divinity School and attended Wesley Seminary for one year, with a year at Mary Washington College in study of Greek.

Miss Long served Piney Forest, Danville; Bellevue Charge, Lynchburg; Hillcrest, Fredericksburg; Lynnhaven, Virginia Beach; and Kenwood, Petersburg, where she retired in 1979.

Following retirement, Miss Long served The Poole Christian Church for two years, and also served as a supply in the United Methodist Church, Petersburg District, for other pastors when called upon, until illness prevented her serving in this capacity in 1986. Mildred Long died April 23, 1990 in Petersburg. She is survived by three brothers, Auley C., Herbert N., and Raymond L. Long.

-Nancy Rowland